Bunker Hill Community College Participates in Montgomery County Community College 26th Annual Technology and Learning Conference
Thursday, December 17, 2020
On October 16, 2020, participants from around the world joined the Montgomery County Community College 2020 Technology and Learning Conference virtually. This year’s technology conference centered on the classroom in a virtual world, enhancing the student experience, technology beyond the classroom and what it means to be in the year of learning.
Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC) Professor Liz Miller and computer science student Admas Kebede participated in a panel discussion titled “Broadening participation in experiential learning using technology,” which is part of a National Science Foundation (NSF) funded project. The discussion focused on a technology-enabled virtual internship and virtual team project program designed to open up access to experiential learning for underrepresented and non-traditional students.
The panel shared their experience of the virtual internship and virtual team-based projects from an educator, industry partner, student and researcher perspective and how this technology is supporting the development of STEM professional skills.
“The idea of being able to give real-world experience to my students and tie it to my curriculum is invaluable,” said Professor Miller. “They are also learning all the professional skills they need and are more aware of their own skill set.”
Admas Kebede was able to complete two virtual internships as part of his coursework at BHCC and provided unique opportunities that he would not normally receive in a classroom setting. “I had the opportunity to learn how an idea becomes a product,” said Admas, “and all the process in between: the creation, the planning, the implementation.”
As part of the internship, the students had the freedom to offer and implement any idea they had to achieve the goal of coming up with an amazing product.